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Irish Witchcraft And Demonology | by John D. Seymour



It is said, though we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the statement, that in a certain book on the natural history of Ireland there occurs a remarkable and oft-quoted chapter on Snakes—the said chapter consisting of the words, "There are no snakes in Ireland." In the opinion of most people at the present day a book on Witchcraft in Ireland would be of equal length and similarly worded, except for the inclusion of the Kyteler case in the town of Kilkenny in the first half of the fourteenth century. For, with the exception of that classic incident, modern writers seem to hold that the witch-cult never found a home in Ireland as it did elsewhere.

TitleIrish Witchcraft And Demonology
AuthorJohn D. Seymour
PublisherHodges, Figgis & Co.
Year1913
Copyright1913, Hodges, Figgis & Co.
AmazonIrish Witchcraft and Demonology
-Chapter I. Some Remarks On Witchcraft In Ireland
It is said, though we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the statement, that in a certain book on the natural history of Ireland there occurs a remarkable and oft-quoted chapter on Snakes—the said chapt...
-Some Remarks On Witchcraft In Ireland. Part 2
In the first place Ireland's aloofness may be alleged as a reason. The Emerald Gem of the Western World lies far away on the verge of Ocean, remote from those influences which so profoundly affect...
-Some Remarks On Witchcraft In Ireland. Part 3
When did witchcraft make its appearance in Ireland, and what was its progress therein ? It seems probable that this belief, together with certain aspects of fairy lore hitherto unknown to the Irish, a...
-Some Remarks On Witchcraft In Ireland. Part 4
To deal with the subject of witchcraft in general, with its psychology or with the many strange items which it included, would be out of place in a work exclusively devoted to one particular country, ...
-Chapter II. A.D. 1324. Dame Alice Kyteler, The Sorceress Of Kilkenny
The history of the proceedings against Dame Alice Kyteler and her confederates on account of their dealings in unhallowed arts is to be found in a MS. in the British Museum, and has been edited amongs...
-Dame Alice Kyteler, The Sorceress Of Kilkenny. Part 2
Foiled in this, he cited her son William for heresy. Upon this Sir Arnold came with William to the Priory of Kells, where De Ledrede was holding a visitation, and besought him not to proceed further i...
-Dame Alice Kyteler, The Sorceress Of Kilkenny. Part 3
Further trouble arose with William Outlawe, who was backed by the Chancellor and Treasurer, but the Bishop finally succeeded in beating him, and compelled him to submit on his bended knees. By way of ...
-Chapter III. A.D. 1223-1583. The Kyteler Case And Its Surroundings Of Sorcery And Heresy
The Kyteler Case and its Surroundings of Sorcery and Heresy—Michael Scot—The Fourth Earl of Desmond—James I and the Irish Prophetess— A Sorcery Accusation of 1447—Witchcraft Trials in the Sixteenth Ce...
-The Kyteler Case And Its Surroundings Of Sorcery And Heresy. Part 2
From this on we shall endeavour to deal with the subject as far as possible in chronological order. It is perhaps not generally known that at one time an Irish See narrowly escaped (to its misfortune,...
-The Kyteler Case And Its Surroundings Of Sorcery And Heresy. Part 3
Nothing further on the subject is recorded until the year 1544, under which date we find the following entry in the table of the red council book of Ireland : A letter to Charles FitzArthur for s...
-The Kyteler Case And Its Surroundings Of Sorcery And Heresy. Part 4
On the whole, considering the temper of the time, this Statute was exceedingly mild. It made no provision whatsoever for the use of torture to extract evidence, nor indeed did it offer any particular ...
-The Kyteler Case And Its Surroundings Of Sorcery And Heresy. Part 5
The bird alighted near the door, and in less than a minute changed, she saw not how, into a horribly deformed and dwarfish hag, who, with yellow skin hanging about her face, and cavernous eyes, swung ...
-Chapter IV. A.D. 1606-1656. A Clerical Wizard
A Clerical Wizard—Witchcraft cured by a Relic— Raising the Devil in Ireland —How he was cheated by a Doctor of Divinity—Stewart and the Fairies—Rev. Robert Blair and the Man possessed with a Devil—Str...
-A Clerical Wizard. Part 2
So far, so good. But there are two sides to every question. Years rolled by, bringing ever nearer and nearer the time at which the account had to be settled, and at length the fatal day dawned. The De...
-A Clerical Wizard. Part 3
When he uttered these words he fell again atrembling, and was stopped in his speaking, looking lamentably at me, designing me to be the person he aimed at; then he fell a crying and lamenting. I showe...
-A Clerical Wizard. Part 4
We have the following on the testimony of the Rev. George Creighton, minister of Virginia, co. Cavan. He tells us that divers women brought to his House a young woman, almost naked, to whom a Rogue ...
-Chapter V. A.D. 1661. Florence Newton, The Witch Of Youghal
With the Restoration of King Charles II witchcraft did not cease ; on the other hand it went on with unimpaired vigour, and several important cases were brought to trial in England. In one instance, a...
-Florence Newton, The Witch Of Youghal. Part 2
And being asked how she could think it was Florence Newton that did her this prejudice ? She said, first, because she threatened her, then because after she had kiss'd her she fell into these Fits, ...
-Florence Newton, The Witch Of Youghal. Part 3
He further saith, That towards Evening the Door of the Prison shook, and she arose up hastily and said, What makest thow here this time a night? And there was a very great noise, as if some body wit...
-Florence Newton, The Witch Of Youghal. Part 4
Elenor Jones, Relict of the said David Jones, being sworn and examined in open Court what she knew concerning any practice of Witchcraft by the said Florence Newton upon the said David Jones her Hus...
-Chapter VI. A.D. 1662-1686. The Devil At Damerville
The Devil at Damerville—And at Ballinagarde— Taverner and Haddock's ghost—Hunter and the ghostly old woman—a witch rescued by the Devil—Dr. Williams and the haunted house in Dublin—Apparitions seen in...
-The Devil At Damerville. Part 2
The same night he was awakened by something pressing upon him, and saw again the ghost of Haddock in a white coat, which asked him if he had delivered the message, to which Taverner mendaciously repli...
-The Devil At Damerville. Part 3
All this time the ghost afforded no indication as to the nature and object of her frequent appearances. But one day the said David going over a Hedge into the Highway, she came just against him, and...
-The Devil At Damerville. Part 4
The first of the sixteen persons who subscribed to the truth of the above was the Rev. Peter Alley, who had been appointed curate of Killenaule Union (Dio. Cashel) in 1672, but was promoted to livings...
-The Devil At Damerville. Part 5
Most wonderful and unpleasant were the bodily contortions that an Irish gentleman suffered, as the result of not having employed a woman who to the useful trade of sage-femme added the mischievous one...
-The Devil At Damerville. Part 6
At the instigation of a ghost a lawsuit took place at Downpatrick in 1685. The account of this was given to Baxter1 by Thomas Emlin, a worthy preacher in Dublin, as well as by Claudius Gilbert, one...
-Chapter VII. A.D. 1688. An Irish - American Witch
It is often said that Irishmen succeed best out of Ireland ; those qualities they possess, which fail to ripen and come to maturity in the lethargic atmosphere of the Green Isle, where nothing matters...
-An Irish - American Witch. Part 2
However to make all clear the Court appointed five or six Physicians to examine her very strictly, whether she were no way craz'd in her Intellectuals. Divers Hours did they spend with her, and in a...
-An Irish - American Witch. Part 3
Subsequently, when the clergy of Boston and Charleston had kept a day of prayer with fasting, the children improved until they became perfectly well. But in an unlucky moment Mr. Mather determined to ...
-Chapter VIII. A.D. 1689-1720. Portent On Entry Of James II
Portent On Entry Of James II—witchcraft In Co. Antrim—traditional Version Of Same—events Preceding The Island-Magee Witch-Trial—the Trial Itself—dr. Francis Hutchinson. The account of the following...
-Portent On Entry Of James II. Part 2
We now come to the last instance of witches being tried and convicted in Ireland as offenders against the laws of the realm —the celebrated Island-Magee case. There is a very scarce published account ...
-Portent On Entry Of James II. Part 3
The evening before she died they were taken off as usual ; but this time, instead of being made up in the customary way, they were folded with great care, and laid in a chest upstairs, where they were...
-Portent On Entry Of James II. Part 4
In one of the earliest of the depositions, that sworn by James Hill on the 5th of March, we find an extraordinary incident recorded, which seems to show that at least one of the accused was a victim o...
-Portent On Entry Of James II. Part 5
Her tormentors had told Miss Dunbar that she should have no power to give evidence against them in Court. She was accordingly that day before the trial struck dumb, and so continued in Court during ...
-Chapter IX. A.D. 1807 To Present Day. Mary Butters, The Carnmoney Witch
Mary Butters, the Carnmoney witch—Ballad on her—The Hand of Glory—A journey through the air —A witch in 1911 —Some modern illustrations of cattle- and milk-magic —TRANSference of disease by a caille...
-Mary Butters, The Carnmoney Witch. Part 2
And washed the staff in south-run water,2 And swore the witches she would burn, But she would have the tailor's butter. When sable Night her curtain spread. Then she got on a flaming fire ; The ...
-Mary Butters, The Carnmoney Witch. Part 3
After the opening years of the eighteenth century, when once it had ceased to attract the unwelcome attentions of judge, jury, and executioner, witchcraft degenerated rapidly. It is said by some write...
-Mary Butters, The Carnmoney Witch. Part 4
We may also expect to find traces of strange doings with respect to the produce of cows, viz. milk and butter. Various tales are related to the following effect. A herdsman having wounded a hare, whic...
-Mary Butters, The Carnmoney Witch. Part 5
A most extraordinary account of the Black Art, as instanced in the custom known as burying the sheaf comes from co. Louth. The narrator states that details are difficult to obtain, at which we are n...







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